Health and wellbeing | 15.05.2015

17 frightening facts you should know about skin care products

The average woman uses 12-15 products per day. A man uses
around 6, which means exposure to around 150+ unique and potentially harmful chemicals that all interact with each other in unknown ways.

We absorb up to 60% of what we put on our skin. Children’s bodies absorb 40-50% more than adults. They are at higher risk for
diseases later in life when exposed to toxins.

We are exposed to cosmetic ingredients in many different
ways – by inhaling powders and sprays and by ingestion of chemicals on the hands
and lips. Many cosmetics also contain enhancers that allow ingredients to
further penetrate the skin. Bio monitoring studies have found that cosmetic
ingredients such as parabens, phthalate plasticisers, triclosan, synthetic
musks and sunscreens are commonly found pollutants in the bodies of women, men
and children.

Allergic reactions and sensitivities are continually
increasing due to the number of chemicals found in skincare products and in our
environment.

Using toxic products has an accumulative effect, filling your
body with toxins and making it more challenging for your body to heal and
repair itself.

Chemicals that are found in skincare are also found in brake
fluid, engine degreasers and anti-freeze that are used as industrial chemicals.

Studies have found that many chemicals in skincare products
such as fragrances and sunscreens have been proven to be endocrine disruptors,
interfere with hormone regulation, increase the risk of feminisation of the
male reproductive system, affect sperm count and low birth weight in girls as
well as learning disabilities. They are also known to be carcinogenic and can cause
skin and eye irritation.

Just because a product is for sale in a
supermarket, pharmacy or health food store it does not guarantee safety. There is no authority that requires companies
to test cosmetics for safety. In Australia, unless they are approved by the
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and classified as having a therapeutic
effect or claim, most products and ingredients are not reviewed prior to going
on the market.

Choosing certified organic and chemical free beauty products
reduces environmental impact, as the ingredients are biodegradable and do not
require the use of chemicals for agricultural cultivation. Organic farming
promotes healthier soil and sustainability.

Handcrafted products that are made in small batches have higher concentrations of bioactive ingredients and use fewer resources. You
also need to use less of them.

Mass produced products are often made in Third World
countries and support cheap labour and unethical work practices and conditions.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of animals are killed,
poisoned and blinded to test the safety and efficacy of cosmetics, skincare
products and household cleaning products. Buying products that are not tested
on animals will help put an end to animal cruelty and sends a powerful message
to multinationals that still condone these practices.

Organic products are more expensive to produce due to the
economies of scale. Ethical small companies tend to make fresh small batches on demand and spend more money implementing sustainable practices and purchasing fair trade ingredients.

Green washing is alive and well. The words "natural" and "organic" can be used on labelling, in marketing and even in the company name without censorship and furthermore, often
contain synthetic chemicals. Products that are labelled as organic can contain
as little as 10% organic ingredients by weight or volume. Companies can also
create their own logos to make a product appear as if it is organic. Become
familiar with all labels and read the INCI (ingredient list) and look for organic
certification from OFC, ACO and NASSA in Australia. These standards are the
equivalent of USDA and are the most stringent in the world in regards to what
actually goes into a product. Companies that are certified are independently
audited and must comply with the ingredient criteria set by these standards.

The cosmetic industry polices itself and is only reviewed by
the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel. In its over 30-year history, only
11 ingredients or chemical groups have been deemed to be unsafe. Furthermore,
its recommendations on restricting the use of these ingredients are not
binding.

Companies that use marketing claims pertaining a product to
be "hypoallergenic” or "natural” are unregulated and do not require
evidence to back up such claims, which can mean anything or nothing at all and
in actuality have very little medical meaning. The only value in using these
claims is for promotional purposes. To date there is no official definition for the term
"natural” used in cosmetics and skin care products.

Companies are allowed to leave some chemical ingredients
such as trade secrets, nano materials and fragrance components – with high
irritancy profiles off their labels. Fragrance may include any number of over
3,000 stock chemicals, none of which are required to be listed. Tests
of fragrance ingredients have found an average of 14 hidden compounds per
formulation.

The only way to make these facts more commonly known is for companies to be held accountable. If you've ever bought a product only to later realise that it was not as clean and green as you initially thought, we'd love to hear about your experience so please leave a comment below.

Aug 09, 2018 12:10pm

Yes its a wonderful book. I cover fragrance in my book Truth in Beauty which you may also find insightful.

Billie says:

Apr 01, 2018 10:11pm

A million thank yous for this! I am a micro hair/skin care business that is trying to encourage people to be informed about their skin care products and demand transparency of ingredients. These are facts that everyone needs to know. Thank you!

Julie says:

May 18, 2015 03:19pm

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